Is the word tēvaṉ (தேவன்) used in Tamil a borrowed word from Sanskrit (देव, deva) ?
Is the word tēvaṉ (தேவன்) used in Tamil a borrowed word from Sanskrit (देव, deva)
? There are two conflicting views on this and I wish to briefly describe it
Considering the Sanskrit word deva (देव,), there are interesting cognates and related words in other Indo-European languages. For example in Ancient Greek , there is this word θεός (theós, “god”, noun) which means 'god'. From which we get English word like theology. However a very similar sounding Latin word deus, which also means 'god' is said to be not related to Ancient Greek word theós (θεός). Based on Comparative Method they show that they are not related. However, the Latin word is related to a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European (PIE) word *deywós, from PIE *dyew-, meaning “sky” or “heavens”, which is also said to be the source of Sanskrit deva.
There is really a significant deviation in meaning of the word deva in the most closely
related language, Persian دیو (dêv) which means 'devil, demon'. It is not just Persian, a number of related languages like Avestan (daēuua), Baluchi (dêw), Pashto (dêw), Kurdish (dêw), and such languages Armenian, դև (dew), Georgian, დევი (devi) (meaning 'giant; monster; dragon'.) also have meanings contrary to Latin deus or Sanskrit deva, or Ancient Greek theós (θεός).
Now, let us consider the Tamil word tēvaṉ (தேவன்)
One theory of the Tamil word tēvaṉ (தேவன்) is that it is a borrowing from Sanskrit, because it sounds so close. However there is an alternative view point which rejects this view and claims that it is of genuineTamil origin. In the 12-volume Tamil Etymological Dictionary called "A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Tamil Language" Mandala 4, part 3, page 94, they have given the origin as follows:
The above citation basically says tēy (தேய்) > tēyu (தேயு) = fire (நெருப்பு, neruppu);
tēy (தேய்) > tēyvu (தேய்வு) > tēvu (தேவு) = 'god', godliness'; tēvu (தேவு) > tēvaṉ (தேவன்) = 'God, King, Husband, Headman' (vadamoḻi varalāṟu, 17).
The basic meaning of tēy (தேய்) is 'to rub, rub to produce sparks and fire' and leads to the sense of fire. The word tē (தே) itself means 'fire' and light'. It is well known that tē – tī= fire, light.
The following quote is from a work called Devaneyam, (I thank Mr. Thamizha Nambi for this quote)
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தேய்தல் – உரசுதல்
தேய் – தே – 1.(உரசிப் பற்றும்) நெருப்பு
2. (நெருப்பாகிய தெய்வம்.
தேபைசை செய்யும் சித்திரசாலை (சிவரக.நைமிச.20)
3.தே – தீ= நெருப்பு, விளக்கு, சினம், தீமை, எரியகம்(நரகம்)
தீமை = தீயின் தன்மை ம,கதீ.i
ஒ.நோ: தேன்-தேம்-தீம் (வ.வ.184)
தேய் – தேய்வு – தேவு – தேவன்.
தேய்வு – தெய்வு – தெய்வம்.
தேவு – தே – தெய்வம், தலைவன்
தேவர்ப் பராய முன்னிலைக் கண்ணே (தொல்.)
தேவ என்னும் சொற்கு சமற்கிருதத்திற் காட்டப்படும் div (to be bright) di, dip (to shine) என்னும் வேர்ச்சொற்கள் முதற் பொருளன்றி வழிப்பொருளே கொண்டுள்ளமையின் பொருந்தாமை காண்க.
- தேவநேயம் 8, பக்கம்.231,233.
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The Ancient Tolkappiyam has "தேவர்ப் பராய முன்னிலைக் கண்ணே" where the word 'tēvar' ('god') is used.
By internal derivation, it is convincingly shown that the word tēvaṉ is of Tamil origin. The Sanskrit word deva greatly differs in meaning from the closely related words in Persian and many of its related languages. So a neutral point of view is that both Tamil and Sanskrit words have independent origins (perhaps like Ancient Greek theós (θεός) and Latin deus).
April 13, 2018
? There are two conflicting views on this and I wish to briefly describe it
Considering the Sanskrit word deva (देव,), there are interesting cognates and related words in other Indo-European languages. For example in Ancient Greek , there is this word θεός (theós, “god”, noun) which means 'god'. From which we get English word like theology. However a very similar sounding Latin word deus, which also means 'god' is said to be not related to Ancient Greek word theós (θεός). Based on Comparative Method they show that they are not related. However, the Latin word is related to a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European (PIE) word *deywós, from PIE *dyew-, meaning “sky” or “heavens”, which is also said to be the source of Sanskrit deva.
There is really a significant deviation in meaning of the word deva in the most closely
related language, Persian دیو (dêv) which means 'devil, demon'. It is not just Persian, a number of related languages like Avestan (daēuua), Baluchi (dêw), Pashto (dêw), Kurdish (dêw), and such languages Armenian, դև (dew), Georgian, დევი (devi) (meaning 'giant; monster; dragon'.) also have meanings contrary to Latin deus or Sanskrit deva, or Ancient Greek theós (θεός).
Now, let us consider the Tamil word tēvaṉ (தேவன்)
One theory of the Tamil word tēvaṉ (தேவன்) is that it is a borrowing from Sanskrit, because it sounds so close. However there is an alternative view point which rejects this view and claims that it is of genuineTamil origin. In the 12-volume Tamil Etymological Dictionary called "A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Tamil Language" Mandala 4, part 3, page 94, they have given the origin as follows:
The above citation basically says tēy (தேய்) > tēyu (தேயு) = fire (நெருப்பு, neruppu);
tēy (தேய்) > tēyvu (தேய்வு) > tēvu (தேவு) = 'god', godliness'; tēvu (தேவு) > tēvaṉ (தேவன்) = 'God, King, Husband, Headman' (vadamoḻi varalāṟu, 17).
The basic meaning of tēy (தேய்) is 'to rub, rub to produce sparks and fire' and leads to the sense of fire. The word tē (தே) itself means 'fire' and light'. It is well known that tē – tī= fire, light.
The following quote is from a work called Devaneyam, (I thank Mr. Thamizha Nambi for this quote)
------------------
தேய்தல் – உரசுதல்
தேய் – தே – 1.(உரசிப் பற்றும்) நெருப்பு
2. (நெருப்பாகிய தெய்வம்.
தேபைசை செய்யும் சித்திரசாலை (சிவரக.நைமிச.20)
3.தே – தீ= நெருப்பு, விளக்கு, சினம், தீமை, எரியகம்(நரகம்)
தீமை = தீயின் தன்மை ம,கதீ.i
ஒ.நோ: தேன்-தேம்-தீம் (வ.வ.184)
தேய் – தேய்வு – தேவு – தேவன்.
தேய்வு – தெய்வு – தெய்வம்.
தேவு – தே – தெய்வம், தலைவன்
தேவர்ப் பராய முன்னிலைக் கண்ணே (தொல்.)
தேவ என்னும் சொற்கு சமற்கிருதத்திற் காட்டப்படும் div (to be bright) di, dip (to shine) என்னும் வேர்ச்சொற்கள் முதற் பொருளன்றி வழிப்பொருளே கொண்டுள்ளமையின் பொருந்தாமை காண்க.
- தேவநேயம் 8, பக்கம்.231,233.
-----------------
The Ancient Tolkappiyam has "தேவர்ப் பராய முன்னிலைக் கண்ணே" where the word 'tēvar' ('god') is used.
By internal derivation, it is convincingly shown that the word tēvaṉ is of Tamil origin. The Sanskrit word deva greatly differs in meaning from the closely related words in Persian and many of its related languages. So a neutral point of view is that both Tamil and Sanskrit words have independent origins (perhaps like Ancient Greek theós (θεός) and Latin deus).
April 13, 2018
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